Glass bending mold



Dec. 24, 1963 J. P. JULIO GLASS BENDING MOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.21, 1960 HWMQHM Dec. 24, 1963 J. P. JULIO GLASS BENDING MQLD 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1960 HWMWQ HM array/urns:

United States Patent 3,115,413? GLASS BENDING M011) James 1. lulio, OakPark, Mich, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Parlr, Mich, acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 77,375 10 Claims.(Cl. 65-290) This invention relates to a glass bending mold andparticularly to a sectionalized bending mold having end or wing sectionspivotally connected to a relatively fixed center section andinterconnected with each other. This invention is an improvement on thebending mold disclosed in the pending patent application of Harvey 1.Little, Serial No. 816,5 80, filed May 28, 1959.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a glass bending moldwith pivotally mounted end or wing sections wherein there is a novelmeans for applying weights to and interconnecting the spaced apart endor wing sections.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel means forapplying weights to the pivotally mounted end or wing sections of asectionalized mold such that the weight means will be most effective tocause closing of the mold end sections as the glass supported thereonsoftens and yet have the weight means so arranged that it does not tendto distort the end or wing sections.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel meansfor supporting the wing section actuating weights on a relatively fixedsection of the sectionalized bending mold and connecting the weights tothe relatively movable wing sections in such a manner that the movementof the weights is transmitted to the wing sections Without requiring thewing sections to support the Weights.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a weight supportingmeans for the pivotally mounted wing sections of a sectionalized bendingmold such that equal weight means will be applied to each of the spacedend sections and the weight supporting means will tend to synchronizethe movement of the pivotally mounted end sections Without causing anydistortion thereof.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a simplified formof actuating means for the pivoted wing sections of a sectionalized moldthat will separate the wing section actuating weights from the wingsections so that the wing sections are of minimum weight and the mostsimplified structure.

it is a further object of this invention to support the wing sectionactuating means on a relatively fixed mold section such that differentwing sections can be readily applied to the same mold base section.

It is still another object of this invention, to connect thesectionalized bending mold to its supporting frame such that relativemovement therebetween may be accommodated Without causing molddistortion.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readilyapparent from a reading of the following description and a considerationof the related drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a bending mold embodying this invention inopen position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the mold shown in FIG. 1 in closedposition;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mold shown in FIG. 2 with the glasssheet removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of one of thepivot connections between the wing sections and the center section, theview showing those portions of the mold within the circle A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the pivot connectionshown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a bending mold having amodified form of this invention.

The drawings show a glass bending mold M that is attached to a carriageframe C to facilitate its passage through a bending lehr not shown. MoldM is of the sectionalized type and includes a stationary central orintermediate supporting section 10 that has end or Wing sections 11, 12pivotally connected to its opposite ends. The fixed or stationary centersection 10 of this bending mold includes the vertical, transverselyspaced, narrow side rails 10a that are interconnected by the diagonallyextending tie rods ltlb. The top edges of the spaced rails 1% provideportions of the shaping surfaces that support and control the shape ofthe glass sheet G that is to be bent on the mold. The opposite ends ofthe side rails 19:: each are mounted on pedestal supports 13. Pedestals13 can be fixedly or detachably connected at 74 to the tubes 9 thatprovide a part of the carriage or base frame C for the mold M. Struts 14extend between transversely aligned pedestals 13 of base C to rigidifythe mounting of the pedestals 13 on the carriage C.

Wing or end sections 11, 12 are identical and each consists of aU-shaped, substantially vertically extending rail 110 or 12a that mayinclude a surrounding flange 11b or 12b respectively that rigidifies theassociated U-shaped end frames 11a and 12a. As the wing sections 11, 12are identical only the wing section 11 will be described in detail. Wingsection flange 11b has U-shaped pivot pin supporting brackets 15, 15fixed to each of its end portions. The brackets 15 have borestherethrough to receive the pivot pins 16 that are mounted in U-shapedbrackets 17 carried by the pedestals 13. FIGS. 3 and 5 give a clear planview of the arrangement of the brackets 15, 17 with respect to the pivotshafts 16. Pivot pins 16 pivotally connect the wing sections 11, 12 tothe mold frame center sections 10 so that the wing sections can foldbetween the open and closed positions shown respectively in FIGS. 1 and2.

Seated on the top 13a of each pedestal 13 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is theassociated end of the noted center section side rail 10a. The side railend 10c has a bore therethrough to receive an anchor bolt 31. The boltreceiving bore is considerably greater in diameter than the bolt 31 sothat it can provide an expansion slot to prevent distortion of the rail10a as a result of differences in thermal capacity between the mold Mand carriage C.

Also adjustably seated on the top 13a of the pedestal 13 by bolt 32 is ayoke-like bracket 33 having upstanding legs that support a pivot pin 34.Pivot pin 34 journals a rocking lever 35 having a cam surface 36 formedalong its upper edge. The crowned cam surface 36 is adapted to beengaged by a roller cam 37 carried by a pin 38 projecting from theflange formation 11b of the mold wing section 11. Rocking levers 35 eachhave a plurality of holes 39 in their other end portions from whichpivot links 41 depend. The several holes 39 provide for adjustability inmounting of the weight supporting links 41. lPivot pins 19 connect thelinks 41 to the levers 35. The lower ends of the pivot links 41 arepivotally connected by pins 20 to the adjacent end of a weightsupporting wing section connector bar 21.

Connector bars 21 extend between the lever links 41 at each end of themold M along each side thereof. The connector bars 21 are each providedwith means for adjustably mounting one or more weights 25 on the bars21. Bolts 22 or any other form of attachment means can be used to attachthe weights 25 to the connector bars 21. It is also proposed to form thebars 21 such that they will provide integral weight means. Also, thebars 21 can be formed of interconnected sections so that they may beadjustable in length to fit different molds for different glasspatterns.

From the foregoing description and a consideration of the drawings itwill be noted that when the mold is in open position (see FIG. 1) theflat sheet of glass G is supported at four points along its length bythe opened mold. The major portion of the weight of the glass G issupported by the ends of the rails a of the fixed or center section 10of the mold M as indicated at 23. A portion of the weight of the glass Gmay also be supported by the tips of the depressed or opened wing sections as shown at 43. It will be noted that when the mold M is opened toreceive the glass G that there are no weight means projecting above thesurface of the glass G to interfere with the loading of the glass ontothe mold M.

As the mold M of FIG. 1 is moved through a bending lehr on conveyorrolls 50 the glass G begins to soften and the weights 25 acting throughthe links 41 apply equal loadings to the inwardly extending ends of thelevers 35. The weights 25 thus exert forces on the wings 11, 12 thattend to fold the wings 11, 12 upwardly to assist in bending the glass Gto the concave shape shown in FIG. 2. Not only does the lever and linksystem 41, 35 lend itself to application of equal bending forces to thewing sections 11, 12 but in addition the connector bars 21 tend tosynchronize the bending action of the wing sections to facilitate theproduction of symmetrically bent glass.

It is thought to be obvious from a consideration of FIG. 4 in particularthat the several holes 39 permit variation in the effective length ofthe lever 35 so that different bending action can be readily obtainedwith this mold to adapt it to different glass shapes. Likewise, theadjustment set screws 32 also assist in controlling the type of bendingof the wings when this mold is used.

Not only are the adjustably mounted links 41 of an advantage for bendingbut in addition the connector bars 21 cooperate with the pivot links 41to further improve the action as well as the flexibility of this mold.Connector bars 21 not only tend to synchronize the hinging action of themold wings but in addition they provide a means for placing of thebending weights in a preferred non-obstructing position where theweights will not interfere with either mold loading or movement of themold through a lehr on a conventional conveyor system.

As previously pointed out in the objects of this invention, one of theprime advantages of this mold construction is that the weight means 25and its actuated linkage 21, 41, 35 is supported by the carriage frame Cso that the weight thereof is not borne by the pivotally mounted,relatively lightweight, mold wing sections 11, 12. As a result of themounting of the weight-actuated wing section bending linkage on the moldfixed center section 10 rather than on the pivotally mounted mold wingsections 11, 12, there is little chance for the weighted linkage tocause distortion or deflection of the wing sections 11, 12. Also,because the wing sections 11, 12 do not have to support the weightedlinkage, the wing sections can be made of the lightest possibleconstruction and this reduction in the amount of metal used in the wingsections also reduces the chances of thermal problems being associatedwith the wing sections. Another advantage derived from the use of aweighted linkage supported by the base or carriage frame C is thatdifferent mold frames M may be readily applied to the same base frame Cbecause the cam and roller connection 36, 37 lends itself tointerchangeability of mold frames M. Because of the cam and rollerconnections 36, 37 it is quite easy to accuratel-y control the type ofwing section bending action that is desired. Not only can the rockinglever support yokes 33 be adjusted on the pedestals 33, but the shape ofthe lever cam surfaces 36 can also be varied by simple machine shopprocedures. The proven advantages of the pivot link supported wingsection actuating linkages disclosed in the aforementioned Harvey J.Little patent application Serial No. 816,580 have been materiallysupplemented by the novel mold arrangement herein disclosed and claimed.

FIG. 6 shows a modified form of this invention wherein the lever pivotpin supporting yoke formation 33' is formed as an integral part of themold center section end ltlc. While the yoke 33 is not adjustable on thepedestal 13 in this form of the invention, still, there can be otheradvantages from this arrangement because the wing section lever means 35then moves with the frame rails 10 and there is no chance for relativedistortion of the center and wing sections 10, 11, 12 due to movement ofthe rails 10 relative to the pedestals 13. As previously pointed out,the expansion slot connection between the bolt 31 and the oversize borein which it is mounted, permits some limited movement between the moldring R and the pedestals 13 of the carriage C.

I claim:

1. A ring-type glass bending mold comprising an intermediate fixedsection and a pair of longitudinally curved, wing sections pivotallymounted on the opposite ends of said fixed section and arranged to swingabout transversely directed, horizontally extending pivot axes betweendepressed open positions and elevated closed p0- sitions to form withsaid fixed section a longitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surfacewhen said wing sections are in their closed mold positions, a levermeans at each end of said fixed section disconnected from the adjacentwing section and extending longitudinally of the mold with each levermeans pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the fixed moldsection for vertical rocking movement, link means pivotally connected toand depending from the inwardly directed, opposed ends of the levermeans for the spaced wing sections, a weighted connector bar pivotallyconnected to and extending between the longitudinally spaced link means,and a cam and follower connection between the outwardly disposed end ofeach lever means and portion of the adjacent mold wing section.

2. A ring-type glass bending mold comprising an intermediate fixedsection and a pair of longitudinally curved, wing sections pivotallymounted on the opposite ends of said fixed section and arranged to swingabout transversely directed, horizontally extending pivot axes betweendepressed open positions and elevated closed positions to form with saidfixed section a longitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface whensaid wing sec tions are in their closed mold positions, a lever means ateach end of said fixed section disconnected from the adjacent wingsection and extending longitudinally of the mold with each lever meanspivotally supported intermediate its ends on the fixed mold section forvertical rocking movement, link means pivotally connected to anddepending from the inwardly directed, opposed ends of the lever meansfor the spaced wing sections, a weighted connector bar pivotallyconnected to and extending between the longitudinally spaced link means,and a cam and follower connection between the outwardly disposed end ofeach lever means and portions of the adjacent mold wing section, saidcam and follower means including a roller follower.

3. A ring-type glass bending mold comprising an intermediate fixedsection and a pair of longitudinally curved, wing sections pivotallymounted on the opposite ends of said fixed section and arranged to swingabout transversely directed, horizontally extending pivot axes betweendepressed open positions and elevated closed positions to form with saidfixed section a longitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface whensaid wing sections are in their closed mold positions, a lever means ateach end of said fixed section disconnected from the adjacent wingsection and extending longitudinally of the mold with each lever meanspivotally supported intermediate its ends on the fixed mold section forvertical rocking movement, link means pivotally connected to anddepending from the inwardly directed, opposed ends of the lever meansfor the spaced wing sections, a weighted connector bar pivotallyconnected to and extending between the longitudinally spaced 'linkmeans, and a cam and follower connection between the outwardly disposedend of each lever means and portions of the adjacent mold wing section,said cam and follower means including a roller follower engageable byline contact with a crowned cam surface.

4. A ring-type glass bending mold comprising a base frame supporting asectionalized bending mold that includes an intermediate section fixedto said base frame and a pair of longitudinally curved, wing sectionspivotally mounted on the opposite ends of said fixed section andarranged to swing about transversely directed, horizontally extendingpivot axes between depressed open positions and elevated closedpositions to form with said fixed section a longitudinally concave,ring-type, shaping surface when said wing sections are in their closedmold positions, lever means at each end of said fixed sectiondisconnected from the adjacent wing section and extending longitudinallyof the mold with each lever means pivotally supported intermediate itsends on the base frame for vertical rocking movement, link meanspivotally con nected to and depending from the inwardly directed,opposed ends of the lever means for the spaced wing sections, a weightedconnector bar pivotally connected to and extending between thelongitudinally spaced link means, and a cam and follower connectionbetween the outwardly disposed end of each lever means and portions ofthe adjacent mold wing section.

5. A ring-type glass bending mold comprising a base frame supporting asectionalized bending mold that includes an intermediate section fixedto said base frame and a pair of longitudinally curved, wing sectionspivotally mounted on the opposite ends of said fixed section andarranged to swing about transversely directed, horizontally extendingpivot axes between depressed open positions and elevated closedpositions to form with said fixed section a longitudinally concave,ring-type, shaping surface when said wing sections are in their closedmold positions, lever means at each end of said fixed sectiondisconnected from the adjacent wing section and extending longitudinallyof the mold with each lever means pivotally supported intermediate itsends on the base frame for vertical rocking movement, link meanspivotally connected to and depending from the inwardly directed, opposedends of the lever means for the spaced wing sections, a weightedconnector bar pivotally connected to and extending between thelongitudinally spaced link means, and a cam and follower connectionbetween the outwardly disposed end of each lever means and portions ofthe adjacent mold wing section, said mold intermediate section beingfixed to said base frame by an expansion joint connection that permitslimited relative movement therebetween.

6. In a ring-type glass bending mold comprising an intermediate fixedsection and a pair of longitudinally curved, wing sections pivotallymounted on the opposite ends of said fixed section and arranged to swingabout transversely directed, horizontally extending pivot axes betweendepressed open positions and elevated closed positions to form with saidfixed section a longitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface whensaid wing sections are in their closed mold positions, a lever at eachend of said fixed section disconnected from the adjacent wing sectionand extending longitudinally of the mold with each lever pivotallysupported intermediate its ends on the fixed section intermediate thelever end for vertical rocking movement about a horizontal, transverselyextending pivot, a weighted connector bar pivotally connected to andextending between the longitudinally spaced levers, and a cam andfollower connection between the outwardly disposed end of each levermeans and the adjacent mold wing section.

7. A glass bending mold comprising a skeleton base frame having cornerpedestals that support a ring-type shaping frame that includes anintermediate fixed section formed of a pair of transversely spaced siderails and a pair of longitudinally curved, substantially U-shaped wingsections pivotally mounted on the opposite ends of said intermediatesection and arranged to swing about transvcrsely directed, horizontallyextending pivot axes between depressed open mold positions and elevatedclosed mold positions to form with said intermediate section alongitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface when said wingsections are in their closed mold positions, a bell crank lever means ateach end of said intermediate section disconnected from the adjacentwing section and extending longitudinally of the mold with each levermeans pivotally supported on the adjacent base frame pedestal forvertical rocking movement, link means pivotally connected to anddepending from the inwardly directed, opposed ends of the lever means, aweighted connector bar pivotally connected to and extending between thelongitudinally spaced link means, and a cam and follower connectionbetween the outwardly disposed end of each lever means and the adjacentmold wing section.

8. A glass bending mold comprising a skeleton base frame having cornerpedestals that support a. ring-type shaping frame that includes anintermediate fixed section formed of a pair of transversely spaced siderails and a pair of longitudinally curved, substantially U-shaped wingsections pivotally mounted on the opposite ends of said intermediatesection and arranged to swing about transversely directed, horizontallyextending pivot axes between depressed open mold positions and elevatedclosed mold positions to form with said intermediate section alongitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface when said wingsections are in their closed mold positions, a bell crank lever means ateach end of said inter-mediate section disconnected from the adjacentwing section and extending longitudinally of the mold with each levermeans pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the mold intermediatesection for vertical rocking movement about a horizontal, transverselyextending pivot, link means pivotally connected to and depending fromthe inwardly directed, opposed ends of the lever means, a weightedconnector bar pivotally connected to and extending between thelongitudinally spaced link means, and a cam and follower connectionbetween the outwardly disposed end of each lever means and the adjacentmold wing section.

9. A glass bending mold comprising a skeleton base from having cornerpedestals that support a ring-type shaping frame that includes anintermediate fixed section formed of a pair of transversely spaced siderails and a pair of longitudinally curved, substantially U-shaped wingsections pivotally mounted on the opposite ends of said intermediatesection and arranged to swing about transversely directed, horizontallyextending pivot axes between depressed open mold positions and elevatedclosed mold positions to form with said intermediate section alongitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface when said wingsections are in their closed mold positions, a bell crank lever means ateach end of said intermediate section disconnected from the adjacentwing section and extending longitudinally of the mold with each levermeans pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the adjacent baseframe pedestal for vertical rocking movement about a horizontal,transversely extending pivot, a weighted connector bar pivotallyconnected to and extending between the longitudinally spaced levermeans, and a cam and follower connection between the outwardly disposedend of each lever means and the adjacent mold wing section.

10. A glass bending mold comprising a skeleton base frame having cornerpedestals that support a ring-type shaping frame that includes anintermediate fixed section formed of a pair of transversely spaced siderails and a pair of longitudinally curved, substantially U-shaped wingsections pivotally mounted on the opposite ends of 7 said intermediatesection and arranged to swing about transversely directed, horizontallyextending pivot axes between depressed open mold positions and elevatedclosed mold positions to form with said intermediate section alongitudinally concave, ring-type, shaping surface when said wingsections are in their closed mold positions, a bell crank lever means ateach end of said (intermediate section disconnected from the adjacentwing section and extending longitudinally of the mold with each levermeans piivotal ly supported intermediate its ends on the adjacent baseframe pedestal for vertical rocking movernent about a horizontal,transversely extending pivot, link means pivotally connected to anddepending from the inwardly directed, opposed ends of the lever means, a

weighted connector bar pivotally connected to and extend- 15 ing betweenthe longitudinally spaced link means, and a 5 crowned camrnin g surfaceon the associated lever means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,196,027 Riedel et al Aug. 29, 1916 2,827,738 McKelvey Mar. 25, 19582,882,646 Goligh-tly Apr. 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 768,484 Great BritainFeb. 20, 1957 839,229 Great Britain June 29, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 3 115,403 December 24 1963James P. Julio It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column 4,, line 37 for "portion" read portions =5 column 6, line 419 for"f "r0m" read frame Signed and sealed this 9th day of June 1964 (SEAL)Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner ofPatents

1. A RING-TYPE GLASS BENDING MOLD COMPRISING AN INTERMEDIATE FIXEDSECTION AND A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY CURVED, WING SECTIONS PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FIXED SECTION AND ARRANGED TO SWINGABOUT TRANSVERSELY DIRECTED, HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING PIVOT AXES BETWEENDEPRESSED OPEN POSITIONS AND ELEVATED CLOSED POSITIONS TO FOORM WITHSAID FIXED SECTION A LONGITUDINALLY CONCAVE, RING-TYPE, SHAPING SURFACEWHEN SAID WING SECTIONS ARE IN THEIR CLOSED MOLD POSITIONS, A LEVERMEANS AT EACH END OF SAID FIXED SECTION DISCONNECTED FROM THE ADJACENTWING SECTION AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE MOLD WITH EACH LEVERMEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS ON THE FIXED MOLDSECTION FOR VERTICAL ROCKING MOVEMENT, LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOAND DEPENDING FROM THE INWARDLY DIRECTED, OPPOSED ENDS OF THE LEVERMEANS FOR THE SPACED WING SECTIONS, A WEIGHED CONNECTOR BAR PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINALLY SPACED LINK MEANS,AND A CAM AND FOLLOWER CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OUTWARDLLY DISPOSED END OFEACH LAYER MEANS AND PROTION OF THE ADJACENT MOLD WING SECTION.